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“So, no, I wasn’t shocked at Striker’s dia, so interesti

ng, had fallen into ht have a chance to do what I love to do, rather than what I have to do Thrilled that there was a group of people out there anted and needed me, instead of people who barely tolerated my presence But”—she poked him in the chest—“when I find out what your animal is, I’ll be sure to scream and faint, so you’ll feel properly appreciated” She turned back to Striker “We need to get going”

“Yeah, we do” He reached out and clasped her nape His eye was soft, and the sht have been pride In her But that couldn’t be No one ever felt so like that over her

He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to her lips before releasing her Friday turned away, picked up her water bottle, hoping the men couldn’t see her eyes well up Da so much as she had been since she’d met Striker Or maybe it was just a side effect of the poison She could only hope that’s what it was because she didn’t plan to turn into an emotional wreck anytime soon

“Friday?” Mace called,her tense His tone had softened, but you still couldn’t call it warm “Jury’s still out”

She didn’t answer He was kidding himself The jury was definitely in, and it had already convicted her

“Let’s get going” Striker picked up his daypack “You ready?”

She nodded and put some distance between her and Ape-ed landscape toward the EMP barrier that indicated the border to the Coalition Countries

The silence didn’t bother Friday It wasn’t like she’d spent a lot of tiht think she was a talker, but she was nor the

They stopped now and then to replenish their fluids and energy with tepid water and dry nutrition bars Friday actually craved the taste sensation of the spicy chili Mace had ht fell, the glow of power fro EMP barrier lit up the distant sky The barrier was made up of a set of tall poles that ey contained in laser bea a wall that would overload any circuit passing through it All Coalition Countries used EMP barriers on their borders No ially allowed into Coalition Countries, and anyone who already had implants had to apply for a special visa to cross the border Even then they were closely monitored

As they walked up to the barrier, she noticed a concrete cube of a building on the other side of the gloall of light Striker checked his atch, another relic from his past

“Any time now,” he said

“Time for what?” It didn’t matter how much she wanted to keep the questions inside, they always found a way out

He gave her a knowing s you’d last before your curiosity overrode your stubborn streak It’s been hours, I’m impressed”

“Not ih to answer the question What’s it tiet past the barrier?”